Camera di San Paolo
Apartment of the abbess Giovanna da Piacenza in the former Benedictine monastery of San Paolo in Parma, with the famous chamber frescoed by Correggio in 1519.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Camera di San Paolo is part of the former Benedictine monastery of San Paolo, rebuilt at the end of the 15th century. Here lived the abbess Giovanna da Piacenza, who in her private apartment, made up of six rooms, exercised great cultural and political authority.
The first room was decorated in 1514 by Alessandro Araldi with grisaille motifs on a blue ground and stories from the Old and New Testaments; at the centre a balustrade opens onto the sky, with putti playing musical instruments. The abbess’s chamber was frescoed in 1519 by Antonio Allegri, known as Correggio: the vault imitates an interwoven trellis of branches, with openings from which cupids peer out at hunting games, while the monochrome lunettes show mythological subjects, and a frieze of jugs, crockery and tablecloths suggests the convivial use of the room. Over the fireplace appears Diana, goddess of chastity, a reference to the abbess, whose coat of arms occupies the centre of the ceiling.
The visit route follows the original layout of the apartment and also touches the former refectory of the monastery, later converted into a chapel, where detached frescoes of the 15th and 16th centuries and a 17th-century wooden choir are displayed. The apartment returned to the management of the Municipality of Parma in 2021, after having been a state institute. From 31 August 2026 the Chamber has been closed to the public for conservation work on the frescoes.
Highlights
- Abbess’s chamber frescoed by Correggio in 1519
- Room by Alessandro Araldi of 1514, with grisaille on a blue ground
- Trellis vault with cupids peering out of the openings
- Former refectory with detached frescoes and a 17th-century wooden choir
- Cella di Santa Caterina with two frescoes by Araldi (currently not accessible)
Permanent exhibition
- Camera di San Paolo e appartamento della badessa – The frescoes by Correggio (1519) and Alessandro Araldi (1514) in the private apartment of the abbess Giovanna da Piacenza; the route is currently closed for restoration.
- Operated by
- Comune di Parma
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6over 65s, young people aged 19 to 25, groups of at least 8 people, university students, FAI and Touring Club members, teachers with a card, employees of the Municipality of Parma |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Free admission up to 19 years (once 19, you pay). |
| Seniors | €6Reduced for over 65s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and their companion. |
| Groups (8+ people) | €6 per personReduced for groups of at least 8 people. |
| Families | €20Single family ticket for the civic museums: two adults and one or more children under 19. |
| Single ticket for the six civic museums of Parma (valid 12 months) | €15Reduced €12. |
| Admission on heritage days, Notte dei Musei and other agreed days | €1 |
Free admission: First Sunday of the month
Free admission also for accredited journalists, licensed tourist guides, accompanying teachers, school groups, UNIPR students, ICOM members and residents of the Municipality of Parma. During the closure, tickets are bought for the other civic museums.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The entry for the Polo museale dell’Emilia-Romagna lists the site as fully accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Kids & families
The museum is closed for restoration until around spring 2027.
Getting there & parking
The complex is in the historic centre of Parma, in Via Melloni. The Municipality’s IAT-R office is at Strada Garibaldi 18.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum is closed for restoration until around spring 2027.
Events & venue rental
The museum is closed for restoration until around spring 2027.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Before the closure: public guided tour on Thursdays at 15:30 (maximum 10 people, included in the ticket; booking by e-mail at cameradisanpaolo@comune.parma.it); school visits on Thursdays at 10:30, free, by reservation. |
